Ex-cops unite against IPCMC

Respa: Police don’t need an outside body to oversee discipline

KUALA LUMPUR: Nine associations, representing some 100,000 former policemen, are strongly opposed to the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) which they claim will impact the police force negatively.

Retired Senior Police Officers Association of Malaysia (Respa) president Tan Sri Ismail Che Rus, representing the associations, said the police force does not need an outside body to be in charge of overseeing disciplinary matters.

“The body will jeopardise the power of the IGP in terms of being in charge of issuing orders and meting out disciplinary actions.

“Such a situation will surely negatively impact the police force as an institution, which is regimented and para-military based on the chain of command and control,” he said at Respa headquarters at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) yesterday.

Article 140 of the Federal Constitution clearly states the jurisdiction of the Police Commission over all members of the police force, thus forming the IPCMC will only go against it, he added.

“Clause 45 of the IPCMC Bill clearly infringes on the Rules of Natural Justice as any sentence or punishment by IPCMC is final and cannot be challenged, appealed, studied, cancelled or brought to court.

“IPCMC also acts as an investigation body, prosecutor and executioner.

“Furthermore, clauses 57 and 58 of the Bill grant absolute power to IPCMC to take over investigations from the IGP and they can also give orders or stop any police investigation.

“This is clearly against the Police Act 1967,” he said.

Ismail said the IPCMC will also be redundant in its duties as the government currently has various commissions, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to monitor and act on wrongdoings.

“The police force also has the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) to take action on disciplinary matters and other infringements by police personnel,” he said.

It is better to strengthen the Police Commission rather than replacing it altogether with IPCMC, he added.

Ismail said Respa will also send a request to meet with newly appointed IGP Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador to discuss matters pertaining to IPCMC.

“We will send the letter of request on Monday. We hope to meet him as soon as possible to hear his thoughts on the matter and to convey ours as well,” he said.

Previously, former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan also voiced his opposition against the IPCMC.